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Distribution, Diet, and Age of Sculpin (Cottidae) in The Upper Columbia River Basin

By: Michelle J. Warren Advised by: Dr. Allan T. Scholz

Background Order Scorpaeniformes 70 Genera and 300 species Bottom dwelling Negatively buoyant Flattened bodies Scaleless

Most Importantly.... Indicator species for water quality Food for larger piscivorous fish

Characteristics

Table from: “Fishes of Eastern Washington: A Natural History, Volume 4” - Allan T. Scholz

Study Area

1. Sherman Creek2. Kettle River3. Flat Creek4. Big Sheep Creek5. Deep Creek6. Columbia at

Northport7. Onion Creek

Sample SitesSample Sites

Kettle RiverKettle River

Sherman CreekSherman Creek

Colville RiverColville River

Big Sheep CreekBig Sheep Creek

2.

1.

3.

Columbia

Columbia

RiverRiver

4.

5.

6.7.

Objective

1. Determine the distribution of native sculpin species

2. Determine age and growth of Cottidae within the study areas

3. Analyze stomach contents to determine diet

Methods

Aging

•Total of 29 otoliths removed

•Fish anesthetized in a 80 mg/L solution of MS-222

•Extraction of otoliths were done in a laboratory setting

•Otoliths stored in 70% ethanol

Diet Collecting Methods Two Methods: Fish were anesthetized in a 80 mg/L solution of MS-222 before being humanely euthanized

Stomachs were then removed within a laboratory setting

Gastric lavage was done with a small syringe and plastic tubing However, this is 60% less effective

Both Stomachs and Prey items were placed in 70% Ethanol

Diet Calculations

Diet Overlap

Fish Collection Results Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) (n=90) (29 to 97 mm) and (1 to 11 g ) KTL: 1.40 (± 0.41)

Prickly Sculpin (C. asper) (n=14) (35 to 83 mm) and (1 to 8 g ) KTL: 1.30 (± 0.50)

Shorthead Sculpin (C. confuses) (n=10) (45 to 90 mm) and (1 to 6 g ) KTL: 1.30 (± 0.10)

Fish Collection (Continued)

Torrent Sculpin (C. rhotheus) (n=83)

(22 to 130 mm) and (1 to 36 g) KTL: 1.33 (± 0.34)

Slimy Sculpin (C. cognatus) (n=10) (42 to 90 mm) and (1 to 16 g) KTL: 1.49 (± 0.44)

Distribution

MottledSculpin

Prickly Sculpin

Shorthead Sculpin

Torrent Sculpin

SlimySculpin

Kettle River YES YES YES YES YES

Sherman Creek YES YES YES YESFlat Creek YES YESDeep Creek YES

Big Sheep Creek YES YES YESNorthport @Columbia River YES YESOnion Creek YES YES

Average Total +(STD) Length in mm at age Age 1 Age 2 Age 3 Age 4

53 (10)

70(7.6) 92(1.4) N/A

Total Length in mm at ageAge 1 Age 2 Age 3 Age 4

50 63 93 97

Mottled Sculpin (C. bairdii) (n=21) Torrent Sculpin (C. rhotheus ) (n=4)

Prickly Sculpin (C. asper) (n=4)

Average Total +(STD) Length in mm at age

Age 1 Age 2 Age 3 Age 4

49(1.4) N/A 82 82

Length at Age

Common Prey Items Found

True Flies Caddisflies Stoneflies

Diet (Prey Items)

Order/Category Common Name FOC % By Number % By Weight Number Weight (g)

Tricoptera Caddisflies 0.83 0.42 0.17 71 0.32Diptera True flies 0.13 0.03 0.05 5 0.11

Ephemeroptera Mayflies 0.23 0.08 0.04 10 0.04

Coleoptera Beetle 0.033 0.02 0.02 2 0.01Plecoptera Stone Fly 0.2 0.08 0.08 13 0.18Odonata Damselfly 0.03 0.01 0.12 1 0.26Scopaeniform Sculpin 0.03 0.01 0.08 1 0.17Eggs Unknown 0.03 0.03 0.002 6 0.003

Lepidoptera Butterfly 0.03 0.01 0.01 1 0.01

Macroparts 0.1 0.12 0.01 20 0.03Detritus 0.43 0.20 0.43 35 0.97

Total(s) 1 1 165 2.1073

Mottled Sculpin Stomachs (n=30)

Diets (Prey Items)Order/Category

Common Name FOC % by Number

% by Weight Number Weight (g)

Macroparts Macroparts 0.4 0.57 0.19 13 0.02

Diptera True Flies 0.2 0.04 N/A 1 N/A

Tricoptera Caddis Flies 0.2 0.17 0.39 4 0.04Plecoptera Stone Flies 0.2 0.09 0.12 2 0.01Detritus Detritus 0.6 0.13 0.29 3 0.03

Totals 1 1 23 0.1055

Prickly Sculpin (n=5)

Order/Category Common Name FOC % by Number % by Weight Number Weight (g)

Diptera True Flies 0.25 0.22 0.03 6 0.02Plecoptera Stone Flies 0.25 0.07 0.65 2 0.29Parasite 0.25 0.03 0 1 0Tricoptera Caddis Flies 0.75 0.15 0.27 4 0.12Ephemeroptera Mayflies 0.25 0.08 0.02 2 0.01Detritus 0.5 0.44 0.02 12 0.01

Total(s) 1 12 27 0.4514

Torrent Sculpin (n=4)

Cx > 0.70Diet Overlap:

Order/Category

Common Names FOC % by Number % by Weight Number Weight (g)

Macroparts 0.5 0.6 0.12 9 0.02

Tricoptera Caddis Flies 1 0.33 0.79 5 0.09

Ephemeroptera May Flies 0.5 0.07 0.09 1 0.01

Total(s) 1 1 15 0.11

Slimly Sculpin (n=2)

Order/Catagory

Common Name FOC % by Number % by Weight Number Weight (g)

Tricoptera Caddis Flies 1.5 0.4 0.70 12 0.04macropart 0.5 0.2 0.05 8 0.002Nematode Roundworm 0.5 0.03 0.03 1 0.001Detritus 0.5 0.27 0.17 8 0.01Plecoptera Stone Flies 0.5 0.03 0.05 1 0.003

Total(s) 1 1 30 0.06

Shorthead Sculpin (n=2)

Diet OverlapsPrickly Sculpin

Slimy Sculpin 0.89

Shorthead Sculpin

Slimy Sculpin 0.99

Prickly SculpinTorrent Sculpin 0.85

• Cx Needs to be over 0.70 to show a significant Diet Overlap

• Mottled Sculpin had no Diet Overlap

• Slimy Sculpin had a diet overlap with both Prickly and Shorhead Sculpin

• Torrent Sculpin had a Diet Overlap with Prickly Sculpin

Discussion Research is mostly focused on Salmonids ( Salmon, trout, chars, freshwater whitefishes, and graylings)

These data add to the limited research conducted

Results showed:

Caddis Flies are the most popular of Prey Items

Torrent Sculpin are widely distributed

Torrent Sculpin are the largest (Weight/Length) of the Cottidae

Fulton Condition Factor was around KTL 1.30-1.49

Acknowledgments EWU Students: Byran Witte, Brian Dietz,

Jessica Walston, Jenna Hatem,

Shawna Warehime and Tyler Janasz.

United States Forest Service and Washington

Department of Fish and Wildlife.

QUESTIONS?